Fortress developers say complex could be up to 55 storeys tall

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This article was published 06/09/2013 (4603 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two Ontario developers are now talking about a 46-storey skyscraper for downtown Winnipeg.

Senior executives with Fortress Real Devolopments Inc. and Mady Development Corporation told about 120 people attending a late morning news conference that if you include a nine-story-high, glass-wrapped lounge area on the top of the building, it will be the equivalent of 55 stories in height.

“This thing is going to be a beacon,” Fortress president and CEO Jawad Rathore said.

The developers said they’re also close to finalizing a leasing deal with a national grocery store chain that is interested in opening a 25,000-square-foot, full-service grocery store on the second floor of the building.

They also tried to dispel any concerns the ambitious project might not go ahead.

“We’re going to build this,” Rathore told reporters. “This is going to happen.”

The $200-million, 730,000-square-foot complex is expected to include more than 400 residential condominiums, up to 70,000 square feet of retail space, about 70,000 square feet of office space and an enclosed parkade with up to 700 stalls.

The developers hope to begin construction on the site, north of Graham Avenue between Smith and Garry streets, in late 2014 or early 2015, and to have it completed sometime in 2017.